"The Phoenix Airport system is an economic engine that not only generates employment, but benefits local businesses and is integral to the multi-billion dollar tourism industry," said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton in a release.

The airport system employs about 250,000 jobs with a total payroll of about $10 billion.

Each day, the airport sees an average of 111,000 passengers and 828 tons of cargo.

In 2007, Sky harbor contributed $33 billion to the state's economy.

The study was conducted by Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business.